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July 16, 1963 D. MACY ETAL 3,097,403

AWNING Filed April 27, 1959 ZSheetg-Slzget 1 I oomuo MA Hnrezv NELSON,

July 16, 1963 D. MACY ETAL 3,097,403

AWNING Filed April 27, 1959 Z Sheets-Sheet 2 34 DONAL Mac):

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5 //3 HA a 12V /QELS-o Al 1% W United States Patent 3,097,403 AWNINGDonald Macy, Richmond Heights, and Harry Nelson, St.

Louis, Mo.,.assignors to Artcraft Venetian Blind Manufacturing Companyof St. Louis, St, Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Apr. 27,1959, Ser. No. 809,241 4 Claims. (Cl. 20-575) The present inventionrelates to improvements in awnings, especially the type adapted to fitover a window or a door.

In an awningof the type to be described, one of the most importantfeatures is simplicity of structure. The present awning has a roofassembly and side assemblies and incorporates a novel means of attachingthe respective side assemblies to the roof assembly.

The roof assemblies incorporated into the present awning utilize channelmembers along opposite parallel edges which serve as retaining membersfor the roof assembly. Similar channel members retain the side panelassemblies. The novel means for attaching the roof assembly to the sideassemblies to be described forms a part of these channel members,thereby eliminating additional separate pieces of the overall assembly.

It is an object therefore to provide an awning having a roof section andside sections while yet preserving extreme simplicity of construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an awning having a roofasesmbly and side assemblies joined together in highly rigid fashionwhile yet preserving ventilation properties at their junctures.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for attachinga roof assembly to a pair of side assemblies by a simple snap-on action.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an awning which maybe readily assembled at the site of its use.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from a moredetailed description thereof wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the awning;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged left side view of the awning taken along thelines 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial view similar to FIGURE 2 with portions shown insection;

FIGURE 4 is a partial view of another portion of FIG- URE2 with partsshown in section;

FIGURE 5 is a partial view of another portion of FIG- URE 2 with partsshown in section;

FIGURE 6 is a view in section taken along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a view in section taken along the lines 77 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is an end view of a seven step panel;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged view in section showing details of the angle barassembly;

FIGURE 10 is a view of a gusset plate;

FIGURE 11 is a view of another gusset plate;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective View of a single slat;

FIGURE 13 is a partial perspective View of the rafter mounting bar;

FIGURE 14 is a partial view of the rear side channel;

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view showing one form of the roof channel;

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view showing one form of the upper sidechannel corresponding to the roof channel of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view showing the details of intersection of thechannels shown in FIGURES 15 and 16;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of a hanger bracket;

FIGURE 19 depicts a modification of the channel member;

FIGURE 20 depicts another view of the modification shown in FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 21 shows detail of assembly of the modifications shown in FIGURES19 and 20;

FIGURE 22 illustrates one form of the ventilation section of the channelmember;

FIGURE 23 illustrates a different form of the ventilation portion of thechannel member; and

FIGURE 24 is a partial view of another form of the channel 60 whereinthe shape of the ventilation section is modified.

A preferred embodiment of the awning is shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2. Thisembodiment includes a pair of side assemblies 31. Each side assembly 31includes a frame of U-shaped channel members comprising a back chan nelmember 32, a bottom channel member 33, and a top channel member 34. Theback channel 32 and the bottom channel 33 may be cut from the samestock, although in the illustrated embodiment the bottom channel 33 iscurved, as shown in FIGURE 2. The top channel 34 has a uniqueconfiguration which will be more fully described, but it includes aU-shaped portion generally similar to the U-shaped portion of thechannels 32 and 33.

The channels 32, 33 and 34 are attached to one another to form a framefor the side panels. For this pur pose, a plurality of brackets orgussets are provided. As viewed in FIGURE 4, the back channel and thebottom channel are joined together by a gusset plate 38 as byselftapping screws 39. As can be seen from FIGURES 4 and 10, the gussetplate 38 has flat portions 40 and 41 which bear against their respectiveadjacent channel members 32 and 33 to add rigidity to the connection.

The back channel 32 and the top channel 34 are similarly connected by agusset plate 43-, as by self-tapping screws 44. This connection can beviewed in FIGURE 3.

A triangular bracket 46, formed with one corner bent, provides a meansof attaching the bottom channel 33 to the top channel 54. The bracket 46is attached to the channel members 3 3 and 34 by self-tapping screws 47.When so attached, the bent corners 48 should be pointed inwardly.

The generally triangular shape of each side frame houses a plurality ofpanels cut to fit within the frame. These panels comprise a plurality ofinterlocking sevenstep panels 50 shown in FIGURE 8. Each of thesevenstep panels 50 has a rolled hook portion 51 at one end and acomplementary rolled hook portion 52 at the other end. It is evidentthat a rolled hook portion 51 of one sevenstep panel interlocks with arolled hook portion'52 of an adjacent panel to form a continuous panelstructure.

In addition, a single slat 55 is provided, as shown in FIGURE 12, havinga rolled hook portion 56 corresponding to the rolled hook portion 51 andanother rolled hook portion 57 corresponding to the hook portion ,52.The single .step panel 55 may be used to augment the length of the panelstructure where the addition ,of a full seven-step panel 50 would makethat length too great. Thus, a plurality of single step panels 55 areadded to the panel assembly whenever less than seven-steps are requiredto finish the panel structure. Also, it maybe desired to include oneslat, such as the uppermost slat on either side assembly, in a differentcolor from the rest of the side assemblies for beautifying purposes. Forthis expedient, one of the single step slats 55 may be added later tothe assembly through a cut away portion 58 in each back channel 32provided for that purpose.

Since the side panel assembly is cut to such a size as to be seatedwithin the U-shaped portion of each channel member, the three channelmembers 32, 33 and 3,4 which frame the side panel assembly willcooperate to retain the panel assembly in a secure manner.

The channel member 34 forms a unique portion of the present invention.The channel member 34 may be an extrusion and, in the preferredembodiment, is of the general configuration shown in FtiGURE 16. As inthat figure, the U-shaped channel portion 34 has extending upwardly fromit, as a continuation of one wall of the channel portion, a flat spacerportion 60. The spacer portion 60 is shown having a plurality of holes61 along its length. The upper edge of the spacer portion 60 terminatesin a barbed portion 62. The barb or hook portion 62 extends along thefull length of the channel member 34.

If desired, the channel member 60 may be formed as illustrated in FIGURE24, with the openings having the shape indicated at 63. Thus it will beappreciated that the channels 60 may have the holes 61 or the cutouts 63or any other of a variety of shapes without departing from the spirit ofthis invention.

In the preferred embodiment, a roof channel member 65 (shown in FIGUREis adapted to interlock with the hook portion 62 of each top channelmember 34. Each roof channel member 65, of which there is one for eachside of the roof assembly, includes an elongated U-shaped portion 66.One leg of the U-shaped portion is flared out at its end 67 whereas theother leg has depending outwardly from the U-shaped portion twoprojections 68 and 69. The projections 68 and 69 extend the full lengthof the channel member 65 and are parallel to one another. The projection68 has a hook portion 70 for interlocking engagement with the hookportion 62 of the channel member 34. The resulting structure is morefirmly secured by means of a few screws 71 driven through the channel 68and the hook 62 as indicated in FIGURE 7. A screw lead groove 72 isprovided to aid in centering certain screws.

Since it is desired to include a curved section at the lower frontportion of the roof assembly, the channel members 34 and 65 must alsocurve at that section. To prevent buckling of the flat spacer portion 60of the channel member 34, the spacer portion 60 is cut away as at 73, 74and 75 adjacent a number of the openings 61. The cut away portions 73,74 and 75 extend to the barbed edge of the channel member 34, throughthe barb or hooked portion 62, so that when the channel member 34 iscurved around to conform to the shape of the awning, the spacer portionmay spread at the cut away places 73, 74 and 75 to relieve the stressencountered. Thus, undesirable buckling is eliminated.

An alternative method of eliminating buckling is shown in FIGURE 22. Inthis modification, the spacer portion 60 including its hook portion 62is entirely cut away beginning at the curved portion 77. (The portion 77might coincide with the cut away portion 73.)

The roof panel construction 80 which extends between the channel 66 oneither side comprises a plurality of the seven-step panels 60 and singlestep panels 55 which were employed for the side panel assemblies. Anynumber and any combination of these panels may be interlocked to form aroof assembly 80 of desired length. A plurality of self-tapping screws81 are driven through the lead groove 72 to hold the roof construction80 in place within the channel member 65.

A hanger strip and brackets are provided to attach the awning to amounting surface. The hanger strip 95, shown partially in FIGURE 13, hasa relatively flat portion 96 for mounting against a surface and a pairof C-shaped portions 97 and 98 having a common leg 99. The hanger strip95 is the same length as the width of the awning.

A pair of mounts 100 are provided for attachment between the hangerstrip 95 and the side panels. These mounts 100 are in the form of ametal sheet having a side section 101 bent at 'a right angle with twoholes 102 out through it. The ends of the main body of each mount '100are formed in hooks 103 and 104. A mount 100 is attached by a hook 103or 104 to the C-shaped portion of the rafter mounting bar 95. Thesection 101 will be adjacent the side panel assembly 31. One of theholes 102 will be adjacent the channel 32 so that the mount may besecured to that channel by a selftapping screw 105. It will be notedthat the shape of the mount 100 is such that it may be interchangeablyplaced on either side of the awning.

The roof panel assembly is secured at its lower end to the frame bymeans of an angle member '84. The angle member 84 is attached by screws85 to the inwardly pointing flanges of the brackets 46. The angle member84 has a horizontal section 86 for that purpose and a generally verticalsection 87 forwardly thereof. The section 87 projects downwardly betweenthe two opposed channels 66 when edge 87 is adjacent the lowermost hook51 of the roof panels. That hook 51 may then be locked about the edge 87as shown in FIGURE 9.

At the lower end of the awning a pair of wall brackets 106 are bolted tothe bottom channel member 33 by bolts 107. The hanger strip 95 and thebrackets 106 are attached to a mounting surface by screws 108.

A modification of the channel members 34 and 65 appears in FIGURES 19,20 and 21. This modification forms, as a single unit, the channelportions for both the top side frame and the roof edge frame as well asincluding the spacer portion and ventilation aper-' tures. Accordingly,the modification, formed as an extrusion, includes a roof channel 110which has one leg 11-1 terminating at right'angles in a spacer portion112. The spacer portion 112 terminates ina second channel portion 113for the top of the side panel frame. Apertures 114 are provided forventilation. A lead groove 115 serves as a guide for screws forattaching the roof panel assembly.

It can be seen that the channel arrangement shown in FIGURES 19, 20 and21 provide the utmost rigidity in the connection between the roofassembly and the side assemblies.

The assembly of the awning may begin with the side panel assemblies. Aplurality of the seven-step panels 50 and the single slats 55, thenumber of which will be determined by the size requirements of aparticular installation, are interlocked together to form a continuoussheet. The sheet is then cut to the shape shown in FIGURE 2. For thispurpose various templets may be provided for the different size awningsencountered. Such templets would be clamped over the sheet ofinterconnected panels to guide a saw.

The U-shaped channel from which the back channel 32 and the'bottomchannel 33 of each side assembly are formed is bent as necessary.After the bottom channel 33 has been bent to the desired shape, it isattached to the back channel 32 by the gusset plate 38.

With the spacer portion either cut away as shown in FIGURE 22, orcompletely out off as in FIGURE 23,

the top channel member 34 is bent around to conform to the desiredcurvature of the roof. Thereafter, if the already connected back channel32 and the bottom channel 33 are placed against the appropriate edges ofthe side panel assembly 31, the top channel 34 is placed against the topedge and then connected to the back channel 32 and the bottom channel33. The latter connection will, of course, be by the gusset plate 44 andthe bracket 46, respectively.

The opposite side may be next assembled in a manner similar to that justdescribed.

It must be noted that, if desired, the topmost slat (which will be asingle slat) may be left off the assembly to be added at a later date.This slat often may be a diiferent color from the remaining side panel,and personalized color choices of the customer may require, for instance, that this slat be added at a purchase date. The

slot 58 in the back channel 32 permits the single slat to be slid intoplace within the channel 34, interlocking with the uppermost rolled hookportion 52.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the roof channels 75 may beadded next to each side assembly. The channel member 65 is bent toconform to the shape of the roof as shown in FIGURE 2. These channelsare easily snapped into place whereby the hook portion 62 of the channelmember 34 interlocks with the hook portion 70 of the channel 65. A fewself-tapping screws 71 secure the connection.

The roof panels now may be added to the assembly. These panels willfirst be placed within the channel portion 65 of one side assembly. Theinstallation begins by sliding together the necessary number ofseven-step panels and single slats to form the roof. These panels andslats are locked together by their various rolled hook portions, as hasbeen described. The hanger strip 95 is slid into interlocking engagementwith the uppermost slat. Next the resulting roof panel assembly isfitted into the exposed channel member 66 and there secured by aplurality of self-tapping screws 81.

With the channel portion 65 having been installed upon the opposite sidepanel assembly, that side panel assembly is also placed against the sideedge of the roof assembly so as to seat the roof assembly within thechannel portion 66 of the channel member 65. The plurality ofselftapping screws 81 when driven through the lower portion of thechannel members 65 and through the roof panels will hold the panelswithin the channels 65.

The angle member 84 is placed with its horizontal section 86 securedbeneath the flanges 48 of the brackets 46 and with the edge of thevertical section 87 extended within the lowermost rolled hook portion51.

After the wall brackets 106 are bolted to the bottom channel members 33by bolts 107, the awning is attached to a mounting surface as by screws108.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the process of thisinvention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Suchchanges and modifications are within the scope and teaching of thisinvention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. Bracket means for attaching together a pair of panels comprising anelongated U-shaped channel member having an elongated hook portionprojecting from it; said U-shaped portion being adapted to seat an edgeof one of said panels; and a second U-shaped channel member for seatingan edge of the other panel; said second 'U-shaped channel havingdepending from it an elongated barbed channel interlookingly receivingsaid hook portion, the U shaped members having open sides disposed atright angles to one another when the members are interlocked together.

2. The bracket means of claim 1 wherein a flat spacing 6 portionconnects the first-mentioned U-shaped channel member and its hookportion, the spacing portion being partly cut away.

3. An awning structure having a roof and sides, each side having an edgeadjacent an edge of the root and means for joining the top to the sidescomprising an elongated member for each side, each elongated memberhaving a channel for receiving the adjacent edge of a side and anotherchannel 'for receiving an edge of the roof, the open sides of thechannels being at substantially right angles to one another, thechannels of each member being spaced from one another by a plate thathas portions cut away to permit ventilation beneath the roof and toenhance the esthetic design :of the structure, each member being formedof two pieces, and means for releasably locking the pieces to oneanother so that the roof can be snapped onto the sides after allchannels are in place, the locking means comprising an elongated hook onthe plate of one piece and an elongated recess on the plate of the otherpiece, the elongated recess having means for resiliently engaging thehook for locking the two pieces together.

4. An awning comprising a roof and sides, the sides each having astraight rear edge for disposition adjacent a vertical wall, a bottomedge and a curved top edge that slopes from the top of the rear edge tothe bottom edge, the roof being disposed between the sides and havingside edges adjacent the top edges of the sides, and a pair of bracketassemblies for attaching together each side edge of the roof to the topedge of a side, each bracket assembly comprising an elongated channelfor receiving a side edge of the roof with a leg of the channelunderlying the roof and another leg of the channel overlying the roof,and an elongated channel for receiving the top edge of a side with thetwo channel legs disposed on opposite sides of the side, the twochannels being disposed at right angles to one another and separated bya spacer portion, the spacer portion having a plurality of ventilatoropenings through it, the spacer portion being attached to one channelonly With a hook defining the free edge of the spacer portion, the hookextending substantially the entire length of the spacer portion, and ahook interlocking channel attached to the other channel, the hookinterlocking channel being shaped to releasably receive and interlockwith the hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,352,647 Benton Sept. 14, 1920 1,631,355 Baldwin June 7, 1927 2,680,887Rimmeir June 15, 1954 2,867,273 Brennan et al Jan. 6, 1959 2,914,145Benson Nov. 24, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Germany, 1l904X/70e, July 5, 1956.

3. AN AWING STRUCTURE HAVING A ROOF AND SLIDES, EACH SIDE HAVING AN EDGEADJACENT AN EDGE OF THE ROOF AND MEANS FOR JOINING THE TOP TO THE SIDESCOMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER FOR EACH SIDE, EACH ELONGATED MEMBERHAVING A CHANNEL FOR RECEIVING THE ADJACENT EDGE OF A SIDE AND ANOTHERCHANNEL FOR RECEIVING AN EDGE OF THE ROOF THE OPEN SIDES OF THE CHANNELSBEING AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES TO ONE ANOTHER, THE CHANNELS OF EACHMEMBER BEING SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER BY A PLATE THAT HAS PORTIONS CUTAWAY TO PERMIT VENTILATION BENEATH THE ROOF AND TO ENHANCE THE ESTHETICDESIGN OF THE STRUCTURE, EACH MEMBER BEING FORMED OF TWO PIECES, ANDMEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING THE PIECES TO ONE ANOTHER SO THAT THE ROOFCAN BE SNAPPED ONTO THE SIDES AFTER ALL CHANNELS ARE IN PLACE, THELOCKING MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOOK ON THE PLATE OF ONE PIECE ANDAN ELONGATED RECESS ON THE PLATE OF THE OTHER PIECE, THE ELONGATEDRECESS HAVING MEANS FOR RESILIENTLY ENGAGING THE HOOK FOR LOCKING THETWO PIECES TOGETHER.